It's no gridiron game: Web site keeps track of fantasy Congress

BEHIND THE NEWS

October 24, 2006|By Cindy Chang, the New York Times

Fantasy Congress, a competitive Web site created by four students at Claremont McKenna College in Southern California, debuted three weeks ago and through word of mouth has already attracted nearly 600 participants from as far away as Denmark.

"Especially this time of year, all you hear is people talking about fantasy football leagues," said Ellen Montgomery, 27, of Chicago.

"I couldn't care less if I tried, either about real football or fantasy football. But, hey -- I actually pay attention to what goes on in Congress."

Just as in fantasy football, each player picks a team -- in this case, four senators and 12 House members of varying seniority levels -- and competes with other players in a league typically managed by a friend or co-worker. League members determine whether the stakes are monetary or limited to the thrill of victory. But that is where the similarity ends.

On the Fantasy Congress site -- fantasycongress.us -- leagues have names like "We The Peeps" and "Foley4Prez," in addition to the usual school and workplace affiliations.

Players accumulate points as the legislators they have chosen go about their business on Capitol Hill. A House member or senator earns five points for introducing a bill or amendment, and more points for successfully negotiating each step in the legislative process.

Andrew Lee, the college senior who came up with the idea for the game and then enlisted the help of three technologically skilled classmates, has a wonkish side, to be sure. One day during his freshman year, Lee was watching CNN while his roommate exulted over the results of a fantasy football team. That's when Lee thought about devising a similar game that would pit government aficionados against one another.

"Everyone knows about football, but more people need to know about Congress," Lee said. "If as many people knew about Congress as knew about football, baseball and basketball, we'd all be more educated."